There is no good way to count how many copies of a house key exist.
One went to a cousin during vacation. The dog walker had one. A former roommate may still have another in a kitchen drawer. Then there are the two copies nobody remembers making.
Most old keys are probably doing nothing interesting. Probably.
That small doubt is one reason people call a residential locksmith after moving. It is also why B & M Auto Locksmith starts by asking about the home, the doors, and what the customer wants to change. We have worked around Philadelphia locks for 20 years. Not every door needs new hardware, and not every old key problem needs an expensive answer.
Moving day is busy. The sofa gets stuck on the stairs, somebody loses the tape, and changing the locks slips to next week.
Rekeying can be a practical first step. The locksmith changes the working parts inside a usable lock so a new key operates it. Old keys stop working. The lock itself can stay on the door.
Do you always need to replace the locks after buying or renting a home? No. If the hardware is in good shape and suits the door, rekeying may be enough. A loose, damaged, or badly worn lock is a different story.
It also helps to decide whether several doors should use one key. The front, back, and side doors may be able to share a key when the lock types are compatible. Fewer keys on the ring. Fewer chances to stand on the porch trying all of them in the rain.
Bring every key you received at closing or move-in. Even the odd one with no label. We can help sort out what opens what.
A deadbolt should not need a shoulder, a hip, and one very specific pull on the knob.
If it does, the lock may not be the main problem. The door can sag on its hinges. Wood can swell. The strike plate may sit a little too high or low. On some older Philadelphia homes, layers of paint have slowly changed how the door closes.
This matters because a new lock cannot straighten a crooked door. It may feel better for a week, then start sticking for the same old reason.
A home locksmith should watch the bolt move with the door open and closed. That simple check shows whether the trouble is inside the lock or where the bolt meets the frame.
Lock repair makes sense when the hardware still has useful life. A worn cylinder, loose trim, broken spring, or damaged latch may be repairable. Lock replacement is the better route when parts are cracked, badly worn, missing, or no longer right for the door.
We explain the difference while looking at it. Locksmith vocabulary should not be required to approve work on your own house.
Rowhomes can have narrow entries, old mortise locks, glass storm doors, newer deadbolts added years later, and frames that have seen a lot of winters. Twins and detached homes bring side doors, back doors, basement entries, and the door from the garage.
The front door gets the compliments. The back door often gets the wear.
That is why changing one shiny lock may leave the weakest daily problem alone. Which door does everyone actually use? Does the basement key still work? Can the back door be locked without lifting it? Practical questions beat a quick hardware count.
Old hardware also deserves a careful hand. Forcing a stiff key can snap it inside the lock. Spraying the wrong product into a cylinder can collect dirt and make the problem worse later. If the key is bending or coming out covered in fine metal dust, stop wrestling with it.
It is warning you.
Home lockouts are not always dramatic. Sometimes the door pulled shut while you grabbed a package. The trash bag is outside, the phone is inside, and the slippers were not selected for public life.
When the lock and door allow it, we try a non-damaging entry method first. Some failed or high-security locks may need another approach. If drilling becomes necessary, the reason and replacement plan should be clear before it begins.
The locksmith also needs to know that you live there or have permission to enter. ID with the address helps. So can a lease, a neighbor, a building manager, or another reasonable form of proof. If everything is locked inside, say that on the call rather than worrying about it alone on the step.
A broken key adds another layer. Pulling at the visible piece with pliers can push it deeper or damage the keyway. Leave it alone if you can. The broken part may still help identify the key after removal.
Once the door opens, take a second look at why the lockout happened. A latch that does not retract cleanly or a thumb turn that feels loose may be ready to cause a repeat visit.
Apps are useful. Codes are handy. Neither one can fix a bolt that scrapes the frame.
Smart lock installation starts with the boring physical part: measurements, fit, door alignment, and smooth bolt movement. Once that is right, setup gets much easier.
Think about how the house is used before choosing a lock. A family may want separate codes for kids or a cleaner way to let in a sitter. A rental owner may care about changing access between tenants. Someone who never carries a phone wants a keypad that works perfectly well without one.
Ask what happens when the batteries die. Is there a physical key? External power contacts? A warning before the lock goes quiet? The answer should be known before installation day, not discovered outside during a storm.
And keep the backup key somewhere sensible. Under the welcome mat is traditional. It is also the first place everyone checks.
These three situations can all end with new keys, but they do not begin in the same place.
After a move, the main question is who may still have access. Rekeying sound locks is often enough. This is also a good time to match keys where possible and fix the door everyone complained about during the walkthrough.
A missing key depends on context. A key lost somewhere with no address attached may be low risk. A purse stolen with ID and house keys inside is different. In that case, rekeying sooner makes sense.
After a break-in, call the police before disturbing the door or lock. Once the scene is cleared, the locksmith can look at the cylinder, latch, strike, frame, and surrounding damage. Replacing only the lock may miss a split frame or bent door edge.
We do not use a frightening night to sell every piece of hardware in the catalog. The goal is to secure the entry, explain what failed, and separate what needs attention now from what can wait.
A tenant needs a working lock. A landlord or property manager may need to approve changes. The building may have a shared vestibule that uses a different key from the apartment. Philadelphia rentals can turn one lock into a small group discussion.
Have the unit number, contact information, and permission details ready when possible. For an apartment lockout, building staff may be the fastest way through a shared entrance even when the locksmith is handling the unit door.
Changing a lock without telling the right person can create a new problem with management or emergency access. A five-minute approval call is easier than sorting out keys after the work is done.
For vacant units, property managers can save time by explaining which doors need to match and who should receive keys. Label the units clearly. Hallways at 4 PM look much more alike than anyone expects.
A home lockout, a single rekey, and a full set of replacement locks are different jobs. Price can change with the number of locks, hardware type, condition of the doors, parts, time, and travel.
Count the doors before calling. Then count the locks on each door. A knob and a deadbolt are two locks, even when they sit six inches apart. Photos can help identify older or unusual hardware.
Ask what the estimate includes. If new hardware is being suggested, ask why the current lock cannot be rekeyed or repaired. There may be a good reason. You should hear it.
We work from West Philadelphia and travel for home calls. If the property is outside the city, our local locksmith coverage may reach it. Give us the address so we can check the drive and current availability before setting a time.
Before the locksmith leaves, walk to each door that was worked on. Try every new key yourself.
Open the door. Close it. Lock it from both sides. Check that the bolt enters without pushing or pulling on the door. If several locks were keyed alike, make sure the key works in each one.
Small questions belong here. Which key is the original? Can more copies be made later? Does the smart lock have a backup method? Where should the spare stay?
Twenty years around home locks has taught B & M Auto Locksmith that the last test matters as much as the first look. A lock should work for the person who lives with it, not only for the technician holding a tool.
The one that sticks in winter. The deadbolt that needs a little lift. The smart lock still sitting unopened in its box. Start with that door.
Tell B & M Auto Locksmith what it has been doing and how long it has been doing it. We will help sort out whether the answer is a repair, a rekey, an adjustment, or a new lock - and leave you with a key that makes sense.
